LABRADOR STRAITS, NL - The executive board of the Combined Councils of Labrador is expressing disappointment over the results of a meeting with provincial government officials held in the Labrador Straits region on Monday.

In a news release Friday, the executive suggested the amount of funding allotted to improve the Trans-Labrador Highway from Black Rocks on the Quebec border to the Pinware River Bridge is inadequate given the current condition of the road.

The meeting included Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair MHA Lisa Dempster as well as officials with the Department of Transportation and Works

“This section of the highway has not seen any major improvements in decades and to expect residents to wait until the remaining sections of the Trans-Labrador Highway are upgraded and paved before anything is done is unacceptable,” the release stated.

The council said changes suggested at the meeting to make the money awarded this year go further does not address the major problems residents in the region have to contend with on a daily basis.

“The safety of residents and visitors that travel this section of the Trans-Labrador Highway are paramount and government must take the concerns more seriously. With rain and fog along with darkness, driving this road is uncertain and hazardous to say the least,” the release added.

According to the news release, the council received assurances four years ago that the construction of the Muskrat Fall project would not seriously impact the condition of the highway, but residents can see the constant flow of heavy equipment and tractor-trailers is having a detrimental effect.

The council is calling on the provincial government to find emergency funds to address the problems immediately.